Semiautomatic vending machine including memory circuit

ABSTRACT

In a vending machine for providing at least one dispensing operation, such as a balloon vending and inflating machine, a memory circuit permitting the depositing of several coins, during one time interval preceding the dispensing operations, for activating a number of dispensing operations, the memory circuit accounting for each coin deposited and provided for a dispensing operation corresponding thereto. As part of one vending machine dispensing operation, magnetic switches indicate the depositing of a coin and signal the memory circuit by activating a counter corresponding to the number of vending operations paid for. A unijunction transistor and silicon controlled rectifier are activated by the counter to signal the customer that he may proceed with the prepaid vending operation. After the customer, through a manually operated control, proceeds with one vending operation, a signal is relayed to the counter. This relayed signal causes the counter to again signal the transistor thereby recycling the next vending operation until all of the stored signals are utilized.

United States Patent Allison 51 June 20, 1972 SEMIAUTOMA'IIC VENDING MACHINE INCLUDING MEMORY CIRCUIT Inventor: Rudolph L. Allison, Rockford, Ill.

Assignee: Paramount Textile Machinery Company,

Chicago, 111.

Filed: Jan. 6, 1971 Appl. No.: 104,310

Related 1.1.8. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 830,417, June 4, 1969, Pat. No. 3,561,579.

US. Cl. ..194/1J, 194/2, 222/16, 222/36 Int. Cl. "G071 15/00 FleldofSeiu-ch ..l94/1J, 1 Q, 2, 3, 7, 10, 194/13, 63; 141/174, 181; 221/96; 222/16, 36, 37

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,313,450 4/1967 Erickson ..194/l3 X 6/1965 Standish... .221/211 X 3,536,110 10/1970 West ..l4l/181 X 3,380,490 4/1968 Ellenberg et a1. ..l4l/1 81 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Attorney-Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis ABSTRACT In a vending machine for providing at least one dispensing operation, such as a balloon vending and inflating machine, a memory circuit permitting the depositing of several coins, during one time interval preceding the dispensing operations, for activating a number of dispensing operations, the memory circuit accounting for each coin deposited and provided for a dispensing operation corresponding thereto. As part of one vending machine dispensing operation, magnetic switches indicate the depositing of a coin and signal the memory circuit by activating a counter corresponding to the number of vending operations paid for. A unijunction transistor and silicon controlled rectifier are activated by the counter to signal the customer that he may proceed with the prepaid vending operation. After the customer, through a manually operated control, proceeds with one vending operation, a signal is relayed to the counter. This relayed signal causes the counter to again signal the transistor thereby recycling the next vending operation until all of the stored signals are utilized.

7Clains,8DrawingFigures PATENTED mo m2 3, 670,860

SHEET 1 or 3 INVENTORY RUDOLPH L. ALLISON PATENTEDJUHQ I972 3 670,860 SHEET 2 or 3 FIG. 4

N ENTOR RUDOLPH L. ALLISON PATENTEDMzomz 3.670.860

, sum. 3 or 3 CYCLE MOUNTEE] SEMIAUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE INCLUDING MEMORY CIRCUIT RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my prior pending application, Ser. No. 830,417, filed June 4, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,579.

This invention relates to a semi-automatic toy balloon vending and inflating machine.

The principal object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and substantially fool-proof, semi-automatic machine of the kind mentioned, and with that objective in view the machine of my invention provides the following cycle:

1 A coin, such as a quarter, for example, is inserted;

2. A knob is turned manually to collect the coin or coins deposited, and, through a novel arrangement of two inter-connected switches designed to prevent cheating" by manipulation of the knob, close an electrical circuit and thereby activate a source of gas and air supply for inflation purposes and also dispense a capsule containing a string and a balloon envelope to be inflated;

3. The mouth end of the balloon envelope is applied to a nozzle on the front of the machine and an illuminated button nearby is depressed to release helium for the inflation, the flow of this gas being controlled by a timer switch, the inflation being completed with compressed air, the flow of which is also controlled by a timer switch, both timers being set into operation by the depression of the one button;

4. The mouth end of the balloon is thereafter slipped off the nozzle and sealed by tying the end of a string onto it in the usual way, the string of suitable length being furnished with the balloon envelope in the aforementioned capsule, and

5. If more than one coin, such as a quarter for purchase of a balloon, has been deposited, for the purchase of more than one balloon, the purchaser can turn the knob several times to dispense as many capsules as have been paid for (up to four) and the button will light up soon afier completion of the first cycle, showing that the machine is ready for the next cycle, and so on until all of the coins deposited have been accounted for.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a balloon vending and inflating machine embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the capsules containing the balloon envelope and its string;

FIG. 3 is a view on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with a closure for one side of the housing removed to illustrate the apparatus inside the housing;

FIG. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic illustration of the balloon capsule vending mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the dispensing mechanism on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the location of two reed switches on the fixed dispenser plate in such relation to the location of six permanent magnets in equally spaced relation on the rotary dispenser plate, so that it is only when two of these magnets have been moved past the two reed switches in each coin released operation of the manually rotated knob through the 60 rotation of the rotary dispenser plate that the machine is set for a cycle, operation of both reed switches being essential for the cycling of the machine so as to make the machine foolproof and cheat-proof, as later explained;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the dispensing mechanism on line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section in the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. I to show the registering relationship of the holes in the fixed and rotary plates to the discharge chute at the point in the 60 turning of the rotary plate by the knob that a capsule will be dispensed, and

FIG. 7 is the electrical Circuit.

The same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts in all of these figures.

Referring to the drawings and at first mainly to FIGS. 1 to 6, the housing 8 which is usually placed in a conspicuous location, in a shopping center, for example, has a ledge 9 on one side thereof on which a small housing 10 containing a dispensing mechanism 11 is secured under a second small housing 12 containing the capsules 13 to be dispensed. The dispensing is done by turning a knob 14 after inserting a coin in the slot in the top of the coin box 15. The capsules 13, as shown, are visible through a window 16 provided in the front of the housing 12. The capsule dispensed drops into a chute 17 from which it is easily removed by lifting the pivoted front closure 18. It is important for the purchaser to read the operating instructions 19 provided in any suitable location, either on the front of the housing 8 or housing 12, so that the purchaser will know that he or she should first look for the button 20 to light up and is not to press the button for discharge of the helium gas and air until the neck of the balloon envelope has been properly applied to the nozzle 21. The capsule containing the balloon envelope 22 and a string 23 is open at one end 24 and has a cap 25 removably attached thereto. A hole 26 is provided in the front wall of the housing 8 in proper relation to a waste receptacle 27 inside the housing to receive the discarded capsules 13 and caps 25.

Compressed helium gas is provided in a tank 28 set on the bottom wall of the housing 8 and connected through a tube 29 with the nozzle 21 by means of a T-fitting 30, the latter having another tube 31 connected therewith and extending to an air compresor 32 mounted on the bottom wall of the housing 3 alongside the tank 28. A closure panel (not shown) is removably locked in place to close the open side of the housing. The switch 33 is operated by the push-button 20 which includes a small light bulb 38 (FIG. 7) that lights up the button automatically when the machine is ready for operation. An extension cord 34 has a plug 35 on its outer end for insertion in a suitable receptacle to furnish the electric current for all electrical needs of the machine, as, for example, operation of the motor 36 (FIG. 7), the leads for which are shown at 37 in FIG. 3. The electric light 38 (FIG. 7) illuminates the button 20 only after the proper coin has been dropped into the box 15 and the knob 14 has been turned to dispense the capsule 13, the lighting up of button 20 serving to signal the operator that all is in readiness for the start of a cycle and that he should therefore apply the neck of the balloon envelope 22 to the noule 21 and press the button 20 to get the balloon inflated, when, of course, the end of the string 23 should be wound on the neck and tied tightly to seal it against loss of helium gas and air. A counter 39 (FIG. 3) has its readings visible through a window 40 in one side of the housing 8 so that the owner of the balloon vending and inflating machine has a means of quickly checking on the number of balloons sold, as a means of checking against the money recovered from the box 15, which the owner can unlock by insertion of the proper key in the lock 41. A key-operated switch 42 (FIG. 3) is operable by insertion of the proper key in the lock 43 (FIG. I) to enable the owner, or one authorized by him, as, for example, the proprietor of the store where the machine is stationed, to hand out a capsule from a reserve supply and then, by use of a key in the lock 43, activate the gas and air supply and cause the button 20 to be illuminated for the start of a cycle, without having to deposit the coin otherwise required, such procedure being occasionally required to settle the few complaints of individuals who allege a capsule was not dispensed or that the balloon received was defective. The box illustrated at 44 in FIG. 3 inside housing 8 contains nearly all of the electronic equipment shown in the circuit diagram (FIG. 7) to which reference will be made later, after the operation of the reed switches 45 and 46 by permanent magnets 47 in the operation of the dispensing mechanism 11 has been described.

In FIGS. 5, 5A and 6 a fixed bottom plate 48 is shown as having a circular hole 49 provided therein, which, in a 60 indexing movement of the rotary dispensing plate 50, will have one of six holes 51 brought into register with the hole 49 as the operator turns the knob 14, whereby to drop a capsule 13 into the chute 17. There is only room enough for one capsule in each of the openings 51 between the bottom plate 48 and a top plate 52, shown in FIG. 5A, the latter covering a portion of the rotary plate 50 that registers with the hole 49 in the dispensing operation, so a pile of capsules 13, like that shown in FIG. 1, resting on top of the plate 52 and as much of the rotary plate 50 as is left uncovered by plate 52, cannot efi'ect the dispensing operation and it is certain that only one capsule per coin deposited will be dispensed. No novelty is claimed insofar as the dispensing mechanism itself is concerned. However, the feature that makes this dispensing mechanism fool-proof and cheat-proof insofar as insuring that the machine cannot be made to go into a cycle more than once per coin deposited is believed to be new and patentable. There are two circumferentially spaced radially disposed reed switches 45 and 46 affixed to the bottom of the plate 48 and it requires the magnetic closing of both of these reed switches by two permanent magnets 47 in a 60 turning of the rotary plate 50 to complete the circuit for the start of a cycle. There are six of these permanent magnets carried on rotor 50 spaced 60 apart and all disposed radially as shown by the two that are shown in full lines in FIG. 5 as carried on the under side of the rotor 50, each being secured in place by a screw 53, as seen in FIG. 5A. The locations of the other four permanent magnets are indicated in FIG. 5 by center lines aa, b-b, c-c and d-d, all six permanent magnets being located mid-way between neighboring holes 51 in the rotor 50. The reed switches 45 and 46, as clearly appears in FIG. 5, are spaced approximately 30 apart on opposite sides of any one of said permanent magnets 47. Thus, when a coin is deposited in box 15, releasing the knob 14 for a single indexing movement of rotor 50 through 60, switch 45 is closed first and thereafier switch 46, line c--c representing the first permanent magnet 47 to come into play and line d-d representing the next one to come into play. The switch 46 is close enough to the second magnet that it remains closed until the next indexing of the rotor 50, which is of advantage so far as the key operation of switch 42 is concerned in that it simplifies and cheapens the switch 43, which needly only close the circuit otherwise closed by switch 45. Hence, regardless of the Iooseness of the knob 14 and the play between the gears in the train 54-57(FIG. 4), the operator cannot by any amount of jiggling have the knob 14 make the machine go into a cycle more than once per coin deposited, inasmuch as both switches must be closed in succession and that is possible only by completing 60 indexing movement of rotor 50, and one such index is all that is permitted per coin deposited.

Another important feature is the memory" feature of the present machine provided by the novel circuit of FIG. 7 so that if more than one quarter, for example, is deposited for the purchase of more than one balloon, the purchaser can turn the knob 14 several times to dispense as many capsules as he is entitled to (up to four), and soon after completion of the first cycle the button 20 will light up showing that the machine is ready for the next cycle, and so on until all of the coins deposited (up to four) have been accounted for.

In operation, insertion of the coin releases the rotor 50 which carries the six permanent magnets 47 on the under side, and any two of these upon turning of knob 20 through 60, atter coin release of the dispensing mechanism, are arranged to operate the reed switches 45 and 46 in succession, 45 first and 46 next. These switches are connected, as shown in FIG. 7, to the positive direct current supply and their closing produces positive pulses into the flip-flop multi-vibrator 58, the function of which is to provide immunity from reed switch electrical disturbances. Afier reed switch 46 closes, a positive pulse is stored in the up-down counters 59 and 60 which include various components for rejection of electrical disturbance, whereby they can accept up to four cycles from 58, allowing up to four quarters to be deposited at one time for four balloons. If only one quarter is deposited, and accordingly only one signal is received in the up-down counter, a signal is sent to turn switch 61 off allowing capacitor 62 to charge through resistance 63. When the voltage at 62 reaches the correct point of unijunction transistor 64 fires, providing a pulse to turn on silicon controlled rectifier 65, providing power to light the bulb 38 for illumination of push-button 20 of switch 33. When push-button 20 is depressed, the voltage across the common terminals 66 and 67 is coupled to terminal 68, firing another silicon controlled rectifier 69. This firing turns on the timer transistor 70, operating the helium solenoid (FIG. 3) via terminals 72 and 73. Rectifier 69 also grounds capacitor 74 allowing it to charge via resistances 75 and 76, the latter being a time adjustment for the helium gas, adjustable by turning screw 76 (FIG. 3). When capacitor 74 reaches the correct level, unijunction transistor 77 fires and a pulse is coupled to another silicon controlled rectifier 78, which also fires. The discharge of capacitor 74 produces a negative voltage on the anode of rectifier 69, turning it off, and ending the helium cycle. Rectifier 78 turns on timer transistor 79 which causes circuit for the motor 36 driving the air compressor 32 to be completed through terminals 73 and 80. Rectifier 78 also grounds capacitor 81, allowing it to charge through resistances 82 and 83, the latter being the time adjustment for the compresser, adjustable by turning screw 83' (FIG. 3). When capacitor 81 charges to the correct level, unijunction transistor 84 fires, turning ofi rectifier 78 and providing a pulse to the up-down counters 59 and 60, telling these counters that one cycle has been completed, and, if more than one reed switch signal was received, there is issued another turnoff signal to unijunction transistor 64 coins start the next cycle, and so on for whatever coins (up to four) have been deposited. Unijunction transistors 61 and 64 provide circuit delay to insure that a coin has been inserted before providing the customer with a visual indication by the illuminated button 20 that he should put a balloon in place on noule 21 for inflation. In passing, 85 indicates a step-down transformer or the equivalent required for the lower voltage operation of the electronic equipment just described, while still providing line voltage for operation of the compressor motor 36 and button illuminating lamp 38. 42 represents the key-operated switch operable by a key inserted at 43 (FIG. I).

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, this is only for the purpose of illustration, and it is to be understood that various modifications in structure will occur to a person skilled in this art.

I claim:

1. A vending machine having at least one dispensing operation associated therewith, said dispensing operation being actuated by coin insertion, comprising:

means for dispensing,

magnetic switching means for providing a signal corresponding to each vending machine dispensing operation to be provided, said operations being initiated by the number of coins deposited,

memory circuit means including a counter and being pulsed by the operation of said magnetic switching means for registering and storing signals corresponding to the number of coins deposited, said memory circuit means comprisautomatic switching means controlled by said counter for conditioning a first operation,

manually operable switching means selectively controlling the start of said first operation, and

means responsive to the completion of said first operation for signalling said counter to provide the next signal from said counter to said automatic switching means.

2. A vending machine having an article dispensing operation and a second dispensing operation comprising:

a storage housing for dispensing articles to be vended, one

at a time;

a dispensing mechanism requiring rotational movement of a rotor having article carrying openings therein, said movement being relative to a stationary plate having a plurality of switches thereon, said dispensing mechanism being operable in response to a coin; memory circuit means including a counter and being pulsed by the operation of said switches, during an article dispensing operation, for registering and storing signals corresponding to the number of articles dispensed, said memory circuit means comprising: automatic switching means controlled by said counter for conditioning a second dispensing operation, manually operable switching means selectively controlling the start of said second dispensing operation, and reset means responsive to the completion of said second dispensing operation for signalling said counter to provide the next signal from said counter to said automatic switching means. 3. in a vending machine for providing at least one vending machine dispensing operation; a memory circuit comprising:

magnetic switching means operable in response to each coin activated dispensing operation for signaling the completion of a one of said operations, multivibrator signaling means responsive to said switching means for producing a pulse for each completed coin activated operation,

counter storing means for registering successive dispensing operations, said counter storing means operatively as sociated with said multivibrator signaling means, receiving a pulse therefrom,

automatic switching means controlled by said counter for providing a pulse to condition the activation of another of said dispensing operations; and

manually operable switching means selectively controlling the activation of said dispensing operations, said manually operable switching means providing a reset pulse to said counter storing means.

4. The memory circuit according to claim 3 wherein said automatic switching means includes a unijunction transistor biased into operation by said automatic switching means and a silicon control rectifier for completing a path of current flow for starting said other dispensing operation upon activation of said manually operable switching means.

5. The memory circuit according to claim 3 wherein said manually operable switching means includes:

first timer means for selectively activating a first portion of said other dispensing operation,

second timer means coupled to said first timer means for completing said other dispensing operation upon completion of said first portion, and

relay means for signaling said counter storing means to provide a next cycle pulse to said automatic switching means.

6. The manually operable switching means according to claim 5 wherein said first timer means includes:

a silicon control rectifier,

a timer transistor turned on by the firing of said silicon control rectifier, and

capacitor storage means chargeable through a variable resistor during said timer transistor operation for controlling the duration of said first timer means.

7. The manually operable switching means according to claim 5 wherein said second timer means includes:

a silicon control rectifier,

a timer transistor turned on by the firing of said silicon control rectifier, and

capacitor storage means chargeable through a variable resistor during said timer transistor operation for controlling the duration of said first timer means.

i i i 

1. A vending machine having at least one dispensing operation associated therewith, said dispensing operation being actuated by coin insertion, comprising: means for dispensing, magnetic switching means for providing a signal corresponding to each vending machine dispensing operation to be provided, said operations being initiated by the number of coins deposited, memory circuit means including a counter and being pulsed by the operation of said magnetic switching means for registering and storing signals corresponding to the number of coins deposited, said memory circuit means comprising: automatic switching means controlled by said counter for conditioning a first operation, manually operable switching means selectively controlling the start of said first operation, and means responsive to the completion of said first operation for signalling said counter to provide the next signal from said counter to said automatic switching means.
 2. A vending machine having an article dispensing operation and a second dispensing operation comprising: a storage housing for dispensing articles to be vended, one at a time; a dispensing mechanism requiring rotational movement of a rotor having article carrying openings therein, said movement being relative to a stationary plate having a plurality of switches thereon, said dispensing mechanism being operable in response to a coin; memory circuit means including a counter and being pulsed by the operation of said switches, during an article dispensing operation, for registering and storing signals corresponding to the number of articles dispensed, said memory circuit means comprising: automatic switching means controlled by said counter for conditioning a second dispensing operation, manually operable switching means selectively controlling the start of said second dispensing operation, and reset means responsive to the completion of said second dispensing operation for signalling said counter to provide the next signal from said counter to said automatic switching means.
 3. In a vending machine for providing at least one vending machine dispensing operation; a memory circuit comprising: magnetic switching means operable in response to each coin activated dispensing operation for signaling the completion of a one of said operations, multivibrator signaling means responsive to said switching means for producing a pulse for each completed coin activated operation, counter storing means for registering successive dispensing operations, said counter storing means operatively associated with said multivibrator signaling means, receiving a pulse therefrom, automatic switching means controlled by said counter for pRoviding a pulse to condition the activation of another of said dispensing operations; and manually operable switching means selectively controlling the activation of said dispensing operations, said manually operable switching means providing a reset pulse to said counter storing means.
 4. The memory circuit according to claim 3 wherein said automatic switching means includes a unijunction transistor biased into operation by said automatic switching means and a silicon control rectifier for completing a path of current flow for starting said other dispensing operation upon activation of said manually operable switching means.
 5. The memory circuit according to claim 3 wherein said manually operable switching means includes: first timer means for selectively activating a first portion of said other dispensing operation, second timer means coupled to said first timer means for completing said other dispensing operation upon completion of said first portion, and relay means for signaling said counter storing means to provide a next cycle pulse to said automatic switching means.
 6. The manually operable switching means according to claim 5 wherein said first timer means includes: a silicon control rectifier, a timer transistor turned on by the firing of said silicon control rectifier, and capacitor storage means chargeable through a variable resistor during said timer transistor operation for controlling the duration of said first timer means.
 7. The manually operable switching means according to claim 5 wherein said second timer means includes: a silicon control rectifier, a timer transistor turned on by the firing of said silicon control rectifier, and capacitor storage means chargeable through a variable resistor during said timer transistor operation for controlling the duration of said first timer means. 